Manhattan Metropolis Council District 5 major candidates Julie Menin and Collin Thompson.
Images courtesy of candidates campaigns
Incumbent Council Member Julie Menin is looking for re-election in District 5, which spans the Higher East Facet neighborhoods of Yorkville, Lenox Hill, Carnegie Hill, Roosevelt Island, Midtown East, Sutton Place, and components of El Barrio in East Harlem.
Menin faces a single challenger within the June 24 Democratic major: educator Collin Thompson. Thus far, she has considerably outpaced Thompson in fundraising, with contributions from high-profile donors together with DoorDash and Uber. Menin has additionally been floated as a possible candidate for Metropolis Council Speaker if she secures a 3rd time period.
With each candidates making their case to voters, right here’s a have a look at the race for District 5.
Julie Menin
Picture courtesy of Menin’s marketing campaign
A former metropolis commissioner and legal professional, Council Member Julie Menin is looking for re-election for a 3rd time period within the district the place she lives along with her household.
Previous to becoming a member of the Council, Menin served in three citywide roles: as Commissioner of the Division of Shopper and Employee Safety, Commissioner of the Mayor’s Workplace of Media and Leisure, and Director of the town’s 2020 Census marketing campaign. A lawyer by coaching, she additionally has expertise within the nonprofit and personal sectors.
Within the Council, Menin has sponsored and handed some 25 items of laws. Notable measures embrace the creation of the Workplace of Healthcare Accountability to extend worth transparency at hospitals, a small enterprise portal to streamline licensing and allowing, and laws codifying reproductive rights. She at present chairs the Committee on Shopper and Employee Safety and co-chairs the Ladies’s Caucus.
Menin identifies high quality of life and affordability, public security and sanitation, and training and early childhood entry as her high priorities. She has labored to extend trash assortment, implement a rat mitigation technique, and safe over $70 million in discretionary funding for native parks, colleges, and infrastructure initiatives. She can also be working with metropolis businesses to safe a brand new public faculty website in District 5 and has supported the growth of common little one care.
“It’s been an honor to serve this district,” Menin mentioned in an announcement. “I’m raising my children here and care deeply about our district’s future. I’m so proud to be endorsed by many labor unions, elected officials, and civic leaders. With my strong track record, I’m ready to continue fighting for New Yorkers.”
Collin Thompson
Picture courtesy of Thompson’s marketing campaign
A public faculty principal turned coverage advisor, Collin Thompson says he has spent his profession bettering colleges and strengthening communities in New York Metropolis. After working as a instructor, dean, and principal in Harlem and the Bronx, Thompson went on to advise public faculty superintendents throughout the nation on fairness and systemic reform.
A resident of the Higher East Facet, Thompson lives together with his associate Haro, a trauma ICU nurse at Bellevue Hospital, and their labrador, Springsteen. He’s lively in Park Avenue United Methodist Church and volunteers with native service organizations.
“I’m running because we’ve allowed city government to drift too far from the basics—safe streets, clean subways, strong schools, and responsive leadership,” Thompson mentioned in an announcement. “I’ve spent my life solving real problems by listening, showing up, and doing the work. That’s what I’ll bring to City Council.”
His platform, which he calls the “Solid Six,” focuses on bettering six core areas: colleges, subways, security, sanitation, shelter, and small companies. If elected, Thompson says he’ll prioritize reforming the town’s damaged capital challenge system in addition to modernizing procurement legal guidelines, bettering allowing, and restoring public belief via transparency and direct engagement.
Thompson says the Metropolis Council have to be “a place of real public service, not just a political pit stop.” He’s pledged to carry common workplace hours, reply on to constituent wants, and contain residents in selections earlier than they’re made.
“I used to tell my students: if something isn’t right, do something about it,” he added. “This campaign is practicing what you preach. It’s time to end the status quo.”
